Gutmann Wipe: Overwrite Drive 35 Passes?
Wanna know more about the Peter Gutmann wipe method? Scroll down to for details and how to perform a Gutmann wipe safely in a few steps.
Last Updated December 23, 2025
What Is the Peter Gutmann Wipe Standard?
A Gutmann wipe is a method of securely erasing data from a hard drive, with 35 patterns, each designed for a different encoding mechanism, making recovery virtually impossible, as proposed by Dr. Peter Gutmann in his 1996 paper on secure data deletion. The process typically includes:
- Random data passes to scramble existing information.
- Alternating patterns counteract specific magnetic encoding schemes.
- Final random passes to ensure no trace of original data remains.
The method was originally developed for older magnetic drives, where data remnants could often be reconstructed even after multiple overwrites. It’s particularly usefulwhen disposing of sensitive business or personal information.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Gutmann Wipe
The Gutmann wipe is widely regarded for its unmatched security in data erasure, with both advantages and disadvantages.
Benefits
- Maximum data security: The 35-pass overwritesensure virtually no recoverable traces of data remain, even when using advanced forensic tools. This makes it ideal for sensitive information that must remain confidential.
- Compliance with high-security standards: Many organizations dealing with classified, financial, or medical data rely on rigorous erasure methods. A Gutmann wipe often meets or exceeds strict regulatory requirements for secure data destruction.
Drawbacks
While highly secure, the Gutmann wipe has notable limitations:
- Time-consuming process: Completing 35 passes can take several hours or even days, depending on the size of the drive. This makes it impractical for everyday use or large-scale operations.
- Limited necessity on contemporary drives: Modern HDDs and especially SSDs have different storage architectures, making a full 35-pass Gutmann wipe often unnecessary. More efficient methods (e.g., DoD 5220.22-M) can achieve comparable security on these drives.
How to Perform a Gutmann Wipe Safely
Before performing a Gutmann wipe, taking precautions is critical to prevent data loss and hardware issues.
◾ Ensure all essential data and system images are safely backed up. Once a Gutmann wipe begins, recovery is impossible.
◾ Ensure uninterrupted power (e.g., UPS) and system stability for a smooth wipe.
◾ Choose a powerful software to wipe a hard drive. It should integrate the Peter Gutmann standard and be fully compatible with different operating systems.
AOMEI Backupper Professional is one of the best choices. What’s more, its Disk Wipe feature exceeds data sanitization standards for seamless SSD erasure.
- Selective wiping standards: SupportGutman, DoD 5220.22-M, zero, and random data.
- Flexible Target: Wipe entire drive, partition(s), or unallocated space.
- Bootable Environment: Create a bootable environment automatically while erasing C drive or system disk. You can also create a bootable USB manually.
- Universal Storage Devices: Fully compatible with HDDs/SSDs, external drives, USB drives, etc.
- Integrated Backup Feature: Support file backup, system backup, schedule backup, etc., for data protection. No need to download extra software.
100% SecureStep 1. Open AOMEI Backupper after installing. Under the Tools tab, click Disk Wipe.
Step 2. Select Wipe disk, then the hard drive you want to wipe. It can be HDDs/SSDs, external drives, USB drives, etc.
You’ll be told that the operation will be executed in reboot mode if you select a system disk. Click OK to continue.
Step 3. Select Gutmann wipe and click Next > Start to overwrite data with 35 passes. It’s extremely secure but very slow.
In addition, you can also use other disk wiping methods. The effectiveness of the erasure method depends on the overwritten data value and passes. Higher overwriting levels result in slower speeds.
- To balance safety and speed, you may considerusing DoD 5220.22-M. It allows you to overwrite data 3-7 passes.
- For a fast data cleanup method, try: Fill with random data or zero - both are one-time overwrites, but the data values differ.
For the system disk, it will automatically create a bootable ISO file first to restart the PC and wipe hard drive from BIOS. Additionally, you can create a bootable USB drive manually, which is especially useful for an unbootable system.
Final Thoughts
The Gutmann wipe is best for highly sensitive data(e.g., financial) or compliance industries like government, healthcare, etc, ensuring data is completely unrecoverable. While for users who want to balancespeed and security, simpler multi-pass or single-pass methods are usually enough.
AOMEI Backupper, is one of the best software, including different erasure standards, from Gutmann to DoD 5220.22-M, fill with random data, or zero, along with ser-friendly interface, bootable environment, integrated backup feature, etc. The biggest advantage is that you can use it to safely erase SSD drives.